Retractable handle for case

ABSTRACT

A carrying case and handle assembly are disclosed in which the handle assembly is mounted on the interior of the housing of the carrying case. The carrying handle extends through the housing and is movably retained therein and adapted to extend above the case when in the carrying position. The carrying handle includes spring means to retract the same when the case is at rest.

Umted States Patent 1191 1111 3,744,084 Fankhouser July 10, 1973RETRACTABLE HANDLE FOR CASE Inventor: Cyril E. Fankhouser, Costa Mesa,Primary 'l McCall Calif Assistant Examiner-Dons L. TroutmanAttorney-Lyon & Lyon [73] Asslgnee: Technicolor, lnc., Hollywood, Calif.

[22] Flled: May 14, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 143,449

A carrying case and handle assembly are dlsclosed 1n which the handleassembly is mounted on the interior [52] US. Cl 16/114, l6/l l5, l/58 ofthe housing of the carrying case, The carrying handle [5l] lift Cl A47b/02 extends through the housing and is movably retained Fleld of Searchtherein and adapted to extend above the case when in /53 58 R thecarrying position. The carrying handle includes spring means to retractthe same when the case is at [56] References Cited rest,

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1962 Johnstone eta] 16/115 15 Claims, 5 DrawingFigures 1 RETRACTABLE HANDLE FOR CASE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates generally as indicated to a carrying case and handleassembly therefor, and more particularly to such a case and handle ofthe retractable type.

With cases such as those used to carry apparatus for the projection ordisplay of movies, slides or the like, it is necessary, of course, tohave a handle to facilitate convenient movement. In many instances, asfor example, when the case is to be transporated in the luggagecompartment of an automobile or carried aboard an airplane or stored ina closet or other storage area, a handle of the fixed type which extendsoutwardly from the case constitues an obvious disadvantage in that agreater amount of space is required to accomodate the case. By the sametoken, a protruding handle is more susceptible to breakage or other formof damage resulting from improper handling or storage.

In addition to the foregoing considerations, it is desirable in manysituations to keep the case positioned on a stand or table over a periodof time when the projector or viewer is used more or less continually,such as in a classroom where daily use would occur. When the projectoris not being used, of course, the case must be closed to avoid damage,and a fixed extending handle detracts from the attractive appearance ofthe case and is also somewhat of a temtation for younger children toplay with or to attempt to lift the case. Accordingly, it is desirableto utilize a handle which is capable of being retracted when the case isnot in use.

Since a case containing even a small movie projector or the like,however, may weigh a number of pounds, it is somewhat difficult toprovide a retractable handle which is sufficiently strong to withstandrepeated use over a significant period of time and which is alsoattractive in appearance. Moreover, with projector assemblies of thetype which are becoming increasingly popular where the case contains theentire viewing unit, that is the projector, optical unit and screen, theweight is not evenly distributed within the carrying case as the heavierunits are positioned in the bottom part of the case. As a consequence ofthis, it is difficult to provide a handle which will enable such casesto be carried conveniently by individuals of average stature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Thepresent invention provides a carrying case and retractable handleassembly which is mounted on the interior of the case. The handleassembly thus includes a guide bracket mounted on the interior of thecase and a carrying handle which is movably positioned within the guidebracket and extends through the housing of the carrying case. Springmeans connect the carrying handle to the guide bracket so that thehandle is normally retained in the retracted position but the carryinghandle is permitted to be moved within the bracket from the retracted tothe extended position.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the annexeddrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing the carrying case with thehandle in the retracted position;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating the handle in theextended position;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross section view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the handle assembly.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the case designated generally by thenumeral 1 is of the type frequently used to transport projectors and thelike, comprising a lid 2 and a bottom section 3 on which the handleassembly 4 is mounted. A carrying handle 5 extends through slot 6 in thecase housing. When the handle is retracted, as shown in FIG. I, thecarrying handle 5 is positioned adjacent and in contact with theexterior of the housing and does not protrude excessibely so as to besusceptible to breakage or other damage. When the case to be carried, asshown in FIG. 2, the carrying handle extends above the case and at anangle toward lid 2. When the handle is thus extended, the portion 7which is gripped is positioned substantially over the center of gravityof the case to provide a more equitable distribution of weight and thusfacilitate carrying.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 3-5, the handle assemblyincludes a guide bracket 10 mounted on the interior of the bottom of thecase by rivets l1 and 12 or other suitable mounting means. The carryinghandle 5 is movably positioned within the guide bracket and includes apositioning finger 15 to which spring means 16 is attached.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 5, the guide bracket, in a preferred form,comprises a pair of channels 17 and 18 spaced apart slightly to providea longitudinally extending slot therebetween in which the handle 5 ismovably positioned. The spring means includes springs 19 and 20 whichare connected to the distal ends 21 and 22 of the channels and to thepositioning finger 15 on opposite sides thereof, whereby the carryinghandle is normally retained in its retracted position (FIGS. 1 and 4)but may be moved to the extended, carrying position (FIGS. 2 and 3)simply by gripping the handle and applying an outwardly directed forceas by lifting the case. Stop means in the form of a load bearing plate21 are mounted on the guide bracket 10 by rivets 22 and other fasteningmeans which connect the plate to the C-shaped portions 23 and 24 ofchannels 17 and 18.

The carrying handle includes an angularly configured arm 25 which, asshown in FIG. 2, extends above and over the center of gravity of thecase when the handle is extended. When the handle is thus extended thepositioning finger 15 is forced firmly into engagement with plate 21 dueto the configuration of arm 25. On the other hand, when the case is notbeing carried, the carrying handle is simply released and caused to beretracted by springs 19 and 20 thereby bringing it into the positionshown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

The handle assembly is normally fabricated from metal, as for example,standard steel, although other metals may also be used. Particularlysuitable are lighter metals and metal alloys.

I claim:

1. A retractable handle assembly for a carrying case comprising a guidebracket adapted to be mounted on the interior of a case, a carryinghandle movably positioned within said guide bracket, spring meansconnected to the distal end of said buide bracket and to said carryinghandle, and stop means connected to said guide bracket opposite the endthereof to which said spring means is connected, whereby said carryinghandle is normally retained in said guide bracket in its retractedposition but may be moved from a retracted to a carrying position.

2. The handle assembly of claim 1 in which said carrying handle includesa positioning finger to which said spring means is attached, saidpositioning finger being adapted to engage said stop means when saidcarrying handle is in the carrying position.

3. The handle assembly of claim 1 in which said stop means is a loadcarrying plate mounted on said guide bracket.

4. A retractable handle assembly for a carrying case comprising a guidebracket adapted to be mounted on the interior of a case, a carryinghandle movably positioned within said guide bracket, said guide bracketcomprising a pair of channels with a slot therebetween in which saidcarrying handle is movably positioned, and spring means connected to thedistal end of said guide bracket and to said carrying handle, wherebysaid carrying handle is normally retained in said guide bracket in itsretracted position but may be moved from a retracted to a carryingposition.

5. The handle assembly of claim 4 in which said spring means comprises apair of springs connected to said channels and extending from the distalend of said channels to said carrying handle.

6. A retractable handle assembly for carrying cases comprising a guidebracket adapted to be mounted on the interior of a case, a carryinghandle movably positioned within said guide bracket, spring meansconnected to the distal end of said guide bracket and to said carryinghandle, whereby said carrying handle is normally retained in said guidebracket in its retracted position but may be moved from a retracted toan extended carrying position, stop means connected to said guidebracket adjacent to the end thereof opposite the end to which saidspring means is connected, said stop means being a load carrying platemounted on said guide bracket, said carrying handle including apositioning finger to which said spring means is connected, and saidpositioning finger adapted to engage said stop means when said handle isin the extended position.

7. The handle assembly of claim 6 in which said carrying handle includesan angularly configured arm adapted to extend above and over the centerof gravity of a carrying case when in the extended position tofacilitate carrying.

8. The handle assembly of claim 6, in which said guide bracket comprisesa pair of channels with a longitudinally extending slot therebetween inwhich said carrying handle is movably positioned.

9. A carrying case for projectors and the like comprising a case housingand a retractable handle assembly mounted on said housing, said handleassembly comprising a guide bracket mounted on the interior of saidhousing, a carrying handle movably positioned within said guide bracketand extending through a slot in said housing to the exterior of saidhousing, and spring means connected to the distal end of said guidebracket and to said carrying handle, said handle assembly including stopmeans for said carrying handle mounted on said guide bracket adjacentthe end of said guide bracket opposite the end to which said springmeans is connected, whereby said carrying handle is normally retainedwithin said guide bracket in its retracted position and may be movedfrom the retracted to an extended position.

10. The case of claim 9 in which said handle assembly includes stopmeans for said carrying handle mounted on said guide bracket adjacentthe end of said guide bracket opposite the end to which said springmeans is connected.

11. The carrying case of claim 9 in which said carrying handle includesa positioning finger to which said spring means is connected, saidpositioning finger adapted to engage said stop means when said carryinghandle is in the extended position.

12. The carrying case of claim 11 in which said guide bracket comprisesa pair of channels with a longitudinally extending slot therebetween inwhich said carrying handle is movably positioned.

13. The carrying case of claim 12 in which said stop means is a loadcarrying plate mounted on said guide bracket.

14. The carrying case of claim 13 in which said spring means comprises apair of springs connected to said channels and to said positioningfinger.

15. The carrying case of claim 12 in which said carrying handle includesan angularly configured arm extending through said slot in said casehousing above and over the center of gravity of said case when saidhandle is in the extended position to facilitate carrying.

1. A retractable handle assembly for a carrying case comprising a guidebracket adapted to be mounted on the interior of a case, a carryinghandle movably positioned within said guide bracket, spring meansconnected to the distal end of said buide bracket and to said carryinghandle, and stop means connected to said guide bracket opposite the endthereof to which said spring means is connected, whereby said carryinghandle is normally retained in said guide bracket in its retractedposition but may be moved from a retracted to a carrying position. 2.The handle assembly of claim 1 in which said carrying handle includes apositioning finger to which said spring means is attached, saidpositioning finger being adapted to engage said stop means when saidcarrying handle is in the carrying position.
 3. The handle assembly ofclaim 1 in which said stop means is a load carrying plate mounted onsaid guide bracKet.
 4. A retractable handle assembly for a carrying casecomprising a guide bracket adapted to be mounted on the interior of acase, a carrying handle movably positioned within said guide bracket,said guide bracket comprising a pair of channels with a slottherebetween in which said carrying handle is movably positioned, andspring means connected to the distal end of said guide bracket and tosaid carrying handle, whereby said carrying handle is normally retainedin said guide bracket in its retracted position but may be moved from aretracted to a carrying position.
 5. The handle assembly of claim 4 inwhich said spring means comprises a pair of springs connected to saidchannels and extending from the distal end of said channels to saidcarrying handle.
 6. A retractable handle assembly for carrying casescomprising a guide bracket adapted to be mounted on the interior of acase, a carrying handle movably positioned within said guide bracket,spring means connected to the distal end of said guide bracket and tosaid carrying handle, whereby said carrying handle is normally retainedin said guide bracket in its retracted position but may be moved from aretracted to an extended carrying position, stop means connected to saidguide bracket adjacent to the end thereof opposite the end to which saidspring means is connected, said stop means being a load carrying platemounted on said guide bracket, said carrying handle including apositioning finger to which said spring means is connected, and saidpositioning finger adapted to engage said stop means when said handle isin the extended position.
 7. The handle assembly of claim 6 in whichsaid carrying handle includes an angularly configured arm adapted toextend above and over the center of gravity of a carrying case when inthe extended position to facilitate carrying.
 8. The handle assembly ofclaim 6, in which said guide bracket comprises a pair of channels with alongitudinally extending slot therebetween in which said carrying handleis movably positioned.
 9. A carrying case for projectors and the likecomprising a case housing and a retractable handle assembly mounted onsaid housing, said handle assembly comprising a guide bracket mounted onthe interior of said housing, a carrying handle movably positionedwithin said guide bracket and extending through a slot in said housingto the exterior of said housing, and spring means connected to thedistal end of said guide bracket and to said carrying handle, saidhandle assembly including stop means for said carrying handle mounted onsaid guide bracket adjacent the end of said guide bracket opposite theend to which said spring means is connected, whereby said carryinghandle is normally retained within said guide bracket in its retractedposition and may be moved from the retracted to an extended position.10. The case of claim 9 in which said handle assembly includes stopmeans for said carrying handle mounted on said guide bracket adjacentthe end of said guide bracket opposite the end to which said springmeans is connected.
 11. The carrying case of claim 9 in which saidcarrying handle includes a positioning finger to which said spring meansis connected, said positioning finger adapted to engage said stop meanswhen said carrying handle is in the extended position.
 12. The carryingcase of claim 11 in which said guide bracket comprises a pair ofchannels with a longitudinally extending slot therebetween in which saidcarrying handle is movably positioned.
 13. The carrying case of claim 12in which said stop means is a load carrying plate mounted on said guidebracket.
 14. The carrying case of claim 13 in which said spring meanscomprises a pair of springs connected to said channels and to saidpositioning finger.
 15. The carrying case of claim 12 in which saidcarrying handle includes an angularly configured arm extending throughsaid slot in said case housing above and over the center of gravity ofsaid case when saId handle is in the extended position to facilitatecarrying.